A very blah book. The story was unsatisfying, and the art had no life. A Jedi on the run is hunted by Vader and his Inquisitors. While there is a lot of talk of the legend growing around this Jedi, it is told and barely shown. He is able to outwit the Inquisitors, with absolutely no consequences. Spoiler: Vader joins the finale, Jedi is dispatched, story over. I don't see why this story was told...

This is such a sweet, honest look at one couple's experience with an individual's transition. The author doesn't shy away from the lows and the struggles, but it is a very affirming read. She does a great job of giving space for both her and her partner's voice. It was wonderful to read their story, and I'm grateful that they were comfortable sharing their journey.

While this imparts a powerful history of the forced removal, disenfranchisement, and legal gymnastics against American Indians throughout history, it confusingly starts with a very detailed account of a murder of which the details have zero relevance to the rest of the book. It was confusing and set up a false expectation for the rest of the book. It should be read by every American citizen, but just don't get invested in the Jacobs murder...

A solid start to a new Batman. Exciting twists on familiar characters, but still the same Dark Knight.

Absolute Batman punts the bad guy's kid and I'm here for it 😅 😅 😅

I'm not sure how long the “Absolute“ title will hang around, but I'm enjoying this alternative Batman.

#tuesdaytunes

I haven't watched the 5-hour documentary yet, but I've rocked out to the 7-hour soundtrack.

Billy Joel's debut solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, was notoriously poorly mixed, sped up for a chipmunk-like sound. It was re-mixed in 1983, without Joel's participation, and was a mild improvement. For this soundtrack, there is a new mix of 'Got to Begin Again' and 'Tomorrow is Today', and they are excellent!

https://youtu.be/yHw2rv2qJMg

Thanks to everyone who participated and spread the word about the first #litsyblooddrive, specifically @bookzombie @kadagul @kshakal @lil1inblue @bookwomble @matchlessmarie @thebookhippie

Seeing all the messages and generosity made my birthday extra special. We had financial donations, snack donations, blood donations, and platelet donations. So many ways to give! Keep the hashtag going all year 🩸

How cute are these floating tea infusers?!

https://float2infuse.com/collections/books

A few new releases from a few of my favorite artists:

Rob Thomas - Hard to be Happy
https://youtu.be/tJklc_85tu8

Rachael Yamagata - Birds
https://youtu.be/CZudktmwhYk

Christone Ingram - Bad Like Me
https://youtu.be/4uZT6CChfbE

#tuesdaytunes

I got these about 10 years ago when I was visiting Atlanta, GA. While it could be depressing how relevant King's message still is today, his story is nonetheless inspiring, and many of his philosophies are still in practice today, whether intentionally or subconsciously.

Are you participating in the first #LitsyBloodDrive this weekend?

We have plans for this weekend, so I donated during my lunch break today (and broke out some tie-dye socks for the day 😉). Unfortunately, my employer doesn't provide paid time for donating (yet!), but yours might, so be sure to check. If you are able to donate monetarily, see if your employer has a donation matching program.

Thanks to everyone who has shared and will be giving 🩸

*sigh* Thanks for this, Sesame Street 💝

Thank you to everyone who committed to donating blood or otherwise supporting your local blood bank this week and year round! If you are planning on donating, here are a few tips for optimizing your donation.
#litsyblooddrive

BONUS FACT: Did you know that blood is generally sterile? When they ask if you are feeling healthy and well before your donation, it is not because of germs. It is because they don't want to risk compromising your immunity.

I wish this was more impactful for me. I listened to the audio, and they spoke too quickly and used language specific to the movement that I was not familiar with; I zoned out a few times because I couldn't follow what they were talking about. They talked about their person struggle, but there wasn't a lot of personal information, at least in the beginning; certainly their right, but it made the discussion about their struggles more abstract.

I would certainly have voted for Ram V as best writer over Gene Luen Yang for best writer in this year's Eisner on this vs. Lunar New Year alone. A demonic Rakshasa, Rubin, struggles with its nature as it embarks on a Bourdain-inspired journey through Indian cuisine. The epic team behind The Many Deaths of Laila Starr create another masterpiece.

Well deserving of the 2025 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album, Best Publication for Teens, and Best Writer for Yang. Valentina believes her family is cursed in love, so the spirit of St. Valentine gives her one year to find true love, or he will free her of the burden of ever falling in love. In that year, she learns the truth of her family and joins a team of lion dancers. Predictable ending, but a great journey to it.

Happy Birthday Buddy Guy! He released a new album to celebrate 89 years, and it is brilliant. Check out "Where U At" with Kingfish and "I Don't Forget." And if you haven't seen the movie "Sinners" yet, what are you waiting for?! #legend

#tuesdaytunes

August #bookspin #bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks

Bookspin: Shadow of the Sith
Double Bookspin: By the Fire We Carry

With minimal text and simplistic art, Dash Shaw tells the tale of a young Quaker man who enlists in the Army during the Civil War. The story follows his time at war, as well as his family back home, and how they all struggle with their own interpretations of their faith in relation to the inherent violence of the conflict.

A really good month for me! I rarely read new releases, and I finished two this month. And I enjoyed all of these titles a lot: (Camp Damascus is the only one that was rated less than 4 stars, and that was just because I didn't think I would have enjoyed reading it as much as I did listening to the audio).

I know I read this at some point growing up, but damn, this packs a punch! A simple story on the surface, a slice of life look at a group of greasers, is told with such an honest, clear voice. Powerful characterizations, beautiful insights, I can't believe it was written by a 15 year old, but it totally makes sense that it was. I hope at least some schools still use this as required reading...

#blameitonlitsy

Thanks for posting, @julesG. A quick, but funny read. I was able to find it on Hoopla, took me 15-20 minutes to go through. I've included a sample of the hilarious, but most likely very effective, burns that you can use to deflate the stereotypical “alpha“ male.

Fireweed is blooming nicely in Alaska. I think I'll lean towards non-fiction and comics this month; I read several gritty, dark, emotional books recently, and I think I need a break 😜

Tracy returns home to find answers about the death of his brother. No stranger to getting his hands dirty, he joins his brother's old crew and gets in deeper than he expected. Solid gold from Brubaker and Phillips.

R.I.P. Ozzy

We've also recently lost satirist Tom Leheer and trumpeter/bandleader Chuck Mangione

Earth, Wind & Ozzy 😉 https://youtu.be/FuOuUixdSvY

We'll All Go Together When We Go https://youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs

Feels So Good https://youtu.be/ZOtxTyJmxVI

#tuesdaytunes

R.I.P. Ozzy

We've also recently lost satirist Tom Leheer and trumpeter/bandleader Chuck Mangione

Earth, Wind & Ozzy 😉 https://youtu.be/FuOuUixdSvY

We'll All Go Together When We Go https://youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs

Feels So Good https://youtu.be/ZOtxTyJmxVI

#tuesdaytunes

Who remembers Spot, the 7up mascot?

I made this figure housed in a 7up can for our library's summer reading tiny art showcase.

#litsyblooddrive

Ever consider donating blood, but think, "What's in it for me?" ?

Now, these claims have not been thoroughly studied (except the cookies ?), but there is strong evidence that kickstarting your body's blood production in a safe, controlled manner can have several cardiovascular benefits. You can read more here: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/surprising-benefits-donating-blood

After checking in to a small mountain resort, Ben goes for a short walk that becomes the start of a fever dream odyssey along The Path. Absolutely bonkers, gritty, occasionally violent, and at times surprisingly tender, it is not easy to describe, but it is a ride worth taking!

What can I say? S.A. Cosby is a must read. In this black Southern Greek tragedy, financial whiz Roman returns home after his father falls into a coma and is forced to help his brother out of a tight spot with a local gang. Both physically and emotionally brutal, this book expertly builds tension as the layers are pulled back on the family history and the gangsters.

This brutal, dystopia story follows Wonder Woman after she wakes from a cryogenic sleep to a barren Earth. As she tries to put together the pieces of her memory, she struggles with her torn allegiance to humans and her sisters. Great story well written, with stunning art that reminds me of Paul Pope.

If you're looking for a magnificent earworm, look no further than the theme song for the National Aerobic Championship by Ty Parr. Check out the link for a delightful splash of late 80's gold! 😅

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvMrCEJoAd8

#tuesdaytunes

#litsyblooddrive

Are you eligible to donate blood? Here is a quick breakdown of the basics. You can check with your local donate center to get additional information, including the medication deferral list. There are regular changes (within the last couple years they made it easier for LGBT donors and shortened the tattoo/piercing waiting period).

If you are unable to make a blood donation, please consider other ways to get involved: ⤵️

Borrowed through the Queer Liberation Library

Mara Wilson provides a great narration for this gay conversion camp mystery/thriller. Good representation of the queer spectrum and the religious spectrum. A little on the wordy side at times, so I could see the text getting a little tedious/repetitive, but I really enjoyed Wilson's reading.

A silly crossover that does a great job blending the two words. Very fun. Classic Archie art.

Just watched Concrete Cowboy on Netflix, based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri. An excellent film featuring Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club in North Philadelphia. Jharrel Jerome never ceases to impress, and Caleb McLaughlin takes a big step out of the shadow of his Stranger Things role.
Has anyone read any history books on black cowboys? I'd love to learn more about the culture Fletcher Street is working to preserve.

#TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe

Three soundtracks off the top of my head 😁

Honorable mentions:
The Greatest Showman
The Big Chill
Pulp Fiction

I haven't been able to really dig into this yet, but I am so happy Glen and Marketa have reconnected to release more music. The couple songs I've heard are delightful. I have such great memories of seeing them around the release of their movie Once.

#tuesdaytunes

Happy International Non-Binary People's Day 💛🤍💜🖤

Reminder: The first #litsyblooddrive is taking place on August 9. Schedule your donations on or around that date, or see the previous post for more ways to get involved.

Who needs blood?
1. Cancer: Patients use more than 1/4 of the US blood supply
2. Maternity: 1 in 83 deliveries require transfusions
3. Pediatrics and neonatal
4. Sickle Cell Disease
5. Trauma: 80% of ER deaths and 50% of deaths from injuries are due to severe blood loss.

I won a giveaway through Kate Moore's newsletter for this new release from Susannah Cahalan! I have a couple library borrows I'm starting, but this will go on my list for August 🙂

I'm a fan of V E., and though I don't read a lot of vampire books, but I really enjoyed this. Spanning miles and centuries, the damaged lives of a trio of "toxic lesbian vampires" are explored in brutal, gory, and sapphic detail. While on the slower side, I enjoyed the journey, and the time jumps and switching between characters' POVs, which have been peeves of mine recently, were paced well.

This was a really sweet memoir about living as a black man, discovering his sexuality, moving past trauma, and embracing love and life.

Ozzy Osbourne, who has been living with Parkinson's for the past 5 years, threw a farewell concert this weekend, reuniting with the original lineup of Black Sabbath for the first time in 20 years. I was not exactly the target audience, and while the musicians were technically incredible, it just wasn't fun to watch, IMO. But his legacy was cemented long ago!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhCoNSWTFXM

#tuesdaytunes

#bookspin #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

BookSpin: King of Ashes
DoubleSpin: Fairy Tale

I'm not even trying for a bingo this month 😅 I might also push the double spin to next month, but we'll see how it goes 😋 Still waiting for King of Ashes to arrive at the library...

This year, I am hosting the first Litsy blood drive 🩸 Whether you are a seasoned pro or new to the game, I welcome you to schedule a donation on or around August 9. Not everyone is eligible or willing to donate, so I've listed a couple other ways to participate. Please help spread the word with #litsyblooddrive
Are you a potential first time donor and feeling apprehensive? Feel free to comment below with your questions or comments 👇 ♥️

"There is no trace of fear around him, and it rankles her. That despite the look of her, he is so certain of his safety, convinced she is the damsel, not the danger." ?☠️

I was flying all day Tuesday and missed #tuesdaytunes

I had thought about posting a song reflective of my feelings towards today, but instead, I'm choosing joy and sharing this amazing performance from the Scissor Sisters at Glastonbury this year. The future is joy, freedom, and love

https://youtu.be/UJ84Z5AmaEU

A double-dose of King, a sci-fi classic, and a few comics. Not bad considering two loaded vacations and my own mental processes returning from one and preparing for the next.

#5joysfriday @DebinHawaii

1. Spending time with family in Philadelphia. We saw them almost everyday of the trip
2. Spending a week away from home with my wife
3. Adult arcades with full bars
4. PORK ROLL!
5. Being shown so much love by my older niece and finally getting to meet my 4 year old niece. I wasn't sure how they'd react (Hadlee was 5 when I last saw her), but it was great.